Title:

The Magnetic Field

Problem Scenario

The iron ball took loads of time to reach the magnet after once it got to six inches.

Broad Question:

Do different shapes and sizes of magnets have different patterns for the magnetic field?

Specific Question:
If I have a magnet, then I measure how long it takes the iron object to reach the magnet, and every time the iron object meets the magnet, I increase an inch between the magnet and iron object, will the iron object get to the magnet in under a minute?

Hypothesis:

My hypothesis is that, no the magnet will not reach the time limit, once the magnet reaches two inches, the magnet will increase in time and when the size increases it will take longer for the iron object to reach the magnet.

Graph of Hypothesis:

Variables: (Independent, Dependent, Control.)

Independent:

Time

Dependent:

Inch

Control:

Inches between magnet and iron object.

Vocabulary that needs explaining :

Magnetic Field: A region around a magnetic material or a moving electric charge within which the force of magnetism acts.
Iron Object: An object that is made out of iron.
Independent Variable: An independent variable is the variable you have control over, what you can choose and manipulate
Dependent Variable: A dependent variable is what you measure in the experiment and what is affected during the experiment.
Magnet: A piece of iron (or another sort of material) that has its component atoms so ordered that it exhibits properties of magnetism.
Inches: A unit of linear measure equal to one twelfth of a foot (2.54 cm): "the toy train is four inches long".

General Plan

When making my experiment, I need one magnet, one iron object (ball), a ruler (in inches), a permanent marker, a long piece of white paper, and a stop watch. I measured out an inch between the ball and magnet, then I got my stop watch and timed how long the magnet and the iron ball reached each other. Every time they did, I would increase an inch. The most inches I increased was ten and then I would stop. Then I would just make my graph after done with my data.

Potential Problems and solutions

A problem that could occur is that the iron ball might not of came to the magnet between inches 1 and 10. A solution to that problem would be to either get a new magnet that actually has strength or get a new iron ball or even find a different experiment.

Safety Or Environmental Concerns

I'm 100% sure this isnt any safety or enviromental concerns.

Experimental Design

(add the correct headings from the experimental design page before beginning)

Controlled, manipulated experiment

What is your experimental unit?

One magnet

Number Of Trials:

10

Number Of Subjects In Each trial:

1

Number of Observations:

10

When data will be collected

3/1/2013

Where will data be collected?:

At my house.

Resources and Budget Table

Item	Number needed	Where I will get this	Cost
Iron Object	1	Home	0$
Magnet	1	Home	0$
Ruler	1	My house	0$
Graph Paper	1	My house	0$
Pencil	1	My house	0$
Poster Board	1	Wal-Mart	5$

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Detailed Procedure

Step One: Get one magnet and an iron object.
Step Two: Get a piece of paper, mark down one inch, then add another inch until you get up to ten inches.
Step Three: Place the iron object to the bottom of the paper, then place the magnet on the one inch mark.
Step Four: Record how long it takes for the iron object to reach the magnet.
Step Five: Add another inch for the distance between the iron object to the magnet.
Step Six: Record how long it takes for both of them to reach each other.
Step Seven: Do this eight more times.
Step Eight: Record how long it takes for them to meet each time.
Step Nine: Make a graph of the experiment.

Diagram

Photo List

I will take photo's of me and my experiment, like me putting my experiment up. Taking pictures of the iron object and magnet reaching eachother.

Time Line

December: January: gather up materials. Start experiment
Pick a topic and do a little research, start thinking about what you are going to do.

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February: March:
Write conclusions and results. Finish up Wiki and make poster. Also Science Fair time!

Data Table

Inches	Seconds
1 inch	2 seconds
2 inch	8.5 seconds
3 inch	15.2 seconds
4 inch	26.3 seconds
5 inch	40 seconds
6 inch	65.6 seconds
7 inch	78.9 seconds
8 inch	82.4 seconds
9 inch	111.5 seconds
10 inch	123.9 seconds

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Data Analysis

All Raw Data

Trial	Inch	Seconds
Trial 1	1	2 seconds
Trial 2	2	8.5 seconds
Trial 3	3	15.2 seconds
Trial 4	4	26.3 seconds
Trial 5	5	40 seconds
Trial 6	6	65.6 seconds
Trial 7	7	78.9 seconds
Trial 8	8	82.4 seconds
Trial 9	9	111.5 seconds
Trial 10	10	123.9 seconds

Graphs

Photos

Results

During this experiment, I measured how long it would take for an iron ball to reach a magnet, after they reached I would add another inch, ten times. After about six inches, the iron ball took way past a minute. When the magnet reached after a minute, I still kept count because it did eventually reach the magnet, but it took a very long time. When I added an inch the first time, the time increased 8.3 seconds, the second time it increased 6.7 seconds, the third time 11.1 seconds, forth 13.7 seconds, fifth 25.6 seconds, sixth 13.3 seconds, seventh 3.5 seconds, eighth 29.1 seconds, and then the ninth time is increased 12.4 seconds. The time keeps increasing random numbers, not really the same seconds.

Conclusion

My hypothesis was that, no the iron ball would not beat the time, once the magnet reached two inches, the iron ball would decrease in time, it would take longer for the iron ball to reach the magnet. Based on what I have for my results, I reject my hypothesis. I reject my hypothesis because, Once the magnet reached six inches the time went passed a minute, I said that once the magnet two inches, the time would go pass a minute, that didn't happen.

Discussion

A pattern that my data showed, is that the numbers kept increasing random amounts of numbers when the time was increasing, and so did the inches. This experiment didn't have any problems as far as I know of. This experiment could probably be improved some more, for like the actually experiment, I could of chosen a different one that would actually have better data. Yes, I was able to actually do my experiment, and it kind of turned out well.

Benefit to Community and/or Science

The benefit to community and/or science is that it's useful because the data will show if the magnet has enough strength.

Background Research

Magnetism (the invisible force) can push and pull through some materials such as paper and plastic. All magnets have two ends or poles (North & South). If you put the poles of two magnets together, they will either pull together or push apart. Experiments with magnets will help you to find out more about the way magnetism works and how it can be passed on to some other objects.
Magnetic fields are generated either by moving electric charges (also called electric currents) or by changing electric fie. For example, in an electric motor, electric current produces a magnetic field which forces the motor to turn.
Moving charged particles in atoms create a tiny electrical current, which produces a magnetic field. Thus atoms such as iron carry a magnetic field.
The cause of the Earth's magnetic field is not well understood, but seems to be caused by electrical currents in the core. The magnetism of old rocks is called palaomagnetism.
Stars also have magnetic fields, probably caused by rotations of hot ionized gases in the star. These magnetic fields cause spots on the Sun Radiation, is made from electric and magnetic fields

References

http://www.historyoftheuniverse.com/?p=magfield.htm:

Abstract

I choose this project, because I have always wondered if magnets do have a strong magnetic field. My problem was to see if an iron ball could reach a magnet in less than a minute, I would increase an inch every time they intercept. If I have a magnet, then I measure how long it takes the iron object to reach the magnet, and every time the iron object meets the magnet, I increase an inch between the magnet and iron object, will the iron object get to the magnet in under a minute? My approach in this project, was basically to see if the magnet's strength is fantastic or not. According to my data, the magnet's strength is actually in between good and bad. My results showed me that, the magnet's strength is actually better than I expected. To my conclusion, the magnet I used for my project, I wouldn't say the strength is actually perfect.